A local resident tries to extinguish a wildfire at Fornelo do Monte near Vouzela, central Portugal, on August 21, 2013. Several hundred firefighters were tackling forest fires raging in the north and centre of the country, backed by two Spanish Canadair planes. Portugal, grappling with a number of wildfires, has sought help from Spain and France. Some 31,000 hectares have been lost to fire in Portugal this year. Image courtesy AFP.

Portugal appealed for further international aid Monday to tackle forest fires raging in the country's north and centre, with 30-metre flames towering over villagers in some areas.

The fires continued unabated after claiming the life of a female firefighter last week, despite French and Spanish jets dropping water on the affected regions.

A week without a break was taking its toll on firefighters in Tondela, central Portugal. "We sometimes forget to eat," fire chief Carlos Dias told the Jornal de Noticias newspaper.

"I sleep in half-hour bursts in the car. It's not very comfortable but it's better than nothing," added his colleague.

Miguel Cruz, spokesman for the Civil Protection Authority, said the fires were likely to subside from Wednesday as temperatures fell, but called on France to extend its help.

"We had... an average of 250 to 300 fires a day in inaccessible places, often simultaneously, with a low rate of humidity and strong winds," Cruz said.

In the town of Feitalinho, central Portugal, 400 firefighters and two French planes tackled a blaze Monday, while 500 more took on fires in the north and centre of Portugal.

Two Spanish bombardiers deployed to help put out the fires returned home at the end of last week, and were replaced by the French planes.

California emergency as huge Yosemite fire ragesLos Angeles, CA (AFP) Aug 23, 2013 A huge wildfire raged unchecked near California's famous Yosemite National Park on Friday, threatening thousands of homes as officials declared a state of emergency.
The blaze - named the "Rim Fire" - erupted on Saturday in the Stanislaus National Forest to the west of Yosemite, one of the most popular tourist attractions in California.
By early Friday the inferno had destroyed more th ... read more

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